Forbidden City offers creative souvenirs for tourists

Visitors to China’s famous Forbidden City now have a special chance to relive memories of the magnificent palace -- by taking home newly-designed creative souvenirs.

A new souvenir shop is offering a wide variety of choices, ranging from specially designed key chains to T-shirts, combining cultural elements into modern designs. For example, a set of headphones is made from court beads, which were an official symbol during the Qing dynasty. There’s also a folding fan and umbrella inspired by an officer’s hat.

Built in the early 14th Century, the Forbidden City served as home to Chinese emperors, and was a political center from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is one of China’s top tourist attractions.